October 6, 2021 –Owens & Minor (Richmond, VA) announced that it is celebrating Supply Chain Week to recognize supply chain professionals for their continued dedication and tenacity in helping to ensure quality care can be delivered, even amid global supply challenges.
National Health Care Supply Chain Week was created by the Association of Health Care Resource and Materials Management (AHRMM), to highlight the critical role of healthcare supply and to express appreciation to the dedicated professionals that work in this area.
Over the past 18 months, Owens & Minor has boosted its manufacturing capabilities and Americas footprint through capital investments, increased production capacity and hired additional staff to help support the expanded needs of the U.S. healthcare supply chain.
The company is one of five working with the HHS to produce approximately 600 million N95 respirator masks for the U.S. market. To meet the demand for PPE, Owens & Minor increased production capacity for both raw materials in Lexington, NC, and N95 respirators in Del Rio, Texas.
The company says this investment in an Americas-based, end-to-end supply chain and manufacturing footprint made an immediate impact on healthcare between January 2020 and August 2021:
- Over 1000% increase in N95 respirator production at three locations
- Nearly 100% increase in surgical and procedure mask production
- Over 600% increase in face shield production
- 1500% increase in isolation gown production